Unit for storing and dispensing disks

ABSTRACT

A storage and dispensing unit for a plurality of compact disks in their disk cases in the opened position, the unit including two side wall is that are connected to each other and spaced from each other by a distance greater than the case width, and a plurality of pairs of opposed rails extending toward each other from the side walls so that the inner edges of the rails are spaced from each other by less than the case width, the rails being spaced from adjacent rails on the side wall by a distance greater than the maximum case thickness, the side walls having a length of at least about twice the case width so that a case can be contained within the unit on a respective pair of rails with the case opened, and the base of the case can be extracted by sliding on the opposed rails to move the case to a disk extraction position in which the case base extends beyond the side walls and the disk is exposed to permit extraction of the disk from the case.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a unit for storing media storage disk cases anddispensing restoring media storage disks, such as audio compact disks,audio mini disks, or CD ROM disks.

Disks are traditionally enclosed in clear Lucite boxes called "jewelcases" which are typically stored on shelves, in boxes, or in speciallydesigned storage containers. The jewel case takes two hands to open, isdifficult to open even with two hands, and breaks easily. U.S. Pat. No.4,189,808 discloses a mechanism which stores the jewel case in theclosed position, and mechanically opens the jewel case upon extractionfrom storage using arms and hinges.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,702,369, 5,360,107 and 5,366,073 describe arrangementsin which disks are stored in drawers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention features, in general, a storage and dispensing unit for aplurality of cases holding media storage disks, e.g., compact disks. Thecases have a generally square base, a generally square cover connectedto the base at a hinge, a case width, and a maximum case thickness whenopened. The unit has two side walls that are connected to each other andspaced from each other by a distance greater than the case width. Theunit also has a plurality of pairs of opposed rails extending towardeach other from the side walls so that the inner edges of the rails arespaced from each other by less than the case width. The rails are spacedfrom adjacent rails on the side wall by a distance greater than themaximum case thickness, and the side walls have a length of at leastabout one and one-half times the case width. The cases are containedwithin the unit on a respective pair of rails with the case opened, andthe base of the case can be extracted by sliding on the opposed rails tomove the case to a disk extraction position in which the case baseextends beyond the side walls and the disk is exposed to permitextraction of the disk from the case. The case thus acts as a drawer forthe disk, permits the original cases and disks to be associated togetheras a unit, and does not require the user to open the case to access thedisk.

In preferred embodiments the opposed rails have an associated stop forengaging a unique feature on the case to prevent removal of the casebeyond the disk extraction position. The thickest portion of the baseand cover of the case when opened is at or near the hinge, and the stopis a protruding structure (e.g., a bump) near the front of the rail thatprevents movement of the thickest portion past it without deforming therail or the case. The protruding structure has inclined surfaces on itsfront and back, and the rails are sufficiently flexible to permit thethickest portion to move past the protruding structure without damage tothe case or unit upon application of an insertion removal force, but thestructure prevents removal of the case with the application of a forcethat is less than the insertion force.

Preferably the side walls have a length greater than about 1.8 times thewidth (greater than about 2.0 times the width for cases that are longerthan they are wide). The length of the opened case is at least twice thewidth and sometimes is slightly longer. In the storage and dispensingunit, it is desirable for the stored, opened cases to extend beyond theside walls and rails a distance sufficient to facilitate grasping of theend of the case with fingers. The unit could have a wider extension atthe front or a specially designed cover that provides easy access to theends of the cases but also causes the stored cases to be enclosed.

The unit preferably has bottom and top walls connected between the sidewalls, and a back wall connected between the side walls and between thebottom and top walls. The unit also preferably has a cover that ismovable from a closed position in which the cover covers the front ofthe region between the side walls and prevents moving the cases to anextraction position in which the disks can be extracted. The cover islocated between the side walls when it is in the open position.

When used to store compact disks, having a diameter of about 43/4inches, the case width is about 47/8 inches, and the maximum casethickness is about 3/8 inch. The side walls of the unit are spaced fromeach other by greater than 47/8 inches, the inner edges of the opposedrails are spaced from each other by less than 47/8 inches, and the sidewalls are about 93/4 inches in length (the opened case is about 105/8inches in length, as the case is slightly longer than it is wide). Therails are spaced from each other by a distance greater than about 3/8inch, and the protruding structure is spaced from an opposed railsurface by less than about 3/8 inch.

Units according to the invention could also be used for other mediastorage disks having similar case constructions but different standarddisk diameters and different case dimensions. The case width in generalwould be between 100% and 110% of the standard disk diameter, and themaximum case thickness would be between 300% and 600% of the diskthickness.

Embodiments of the invention have one or more of the followingadvantages. The disk storage and dispensing unit provides a one-handoperation. The disk can be stored with its individual case andinformation book as an integrated unit so that the information book,jewel case, and compact disk are stored as one just as they are sold asone. There is no unnecessary handling of the jewel case so it will beless prone to breakage. The storage container has minimal mechanicalcomplexity. The compact disks and jewel cases are protected fromenvironmental harm such as spilled beverages, dust, and the like. TheJewel case thus is unlikely to be damaged, since it is less oftenremoved and handled, or broken by either impact from dropping, orimproper opening. The cover is hinged at the top or bottom and foldsdown to seal the unit, and folds up and slides into the top of thedevice when the user wishes to extract disks.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description of the preferred embodiment thereof and from theclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disk storage and dispensing unitaccording to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, showing one of theopposing vertical sides of the FIG. 1 unit.

FIG. 3 is a close up perspective view of a bump on a rail of the FIG. 1unit.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a typical jewel box in the openposition.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cover of the FIG. 1 unit.

FIG. 6. is a perspective view of a disk storage and dispensing unit thathas been modified to provide easy access to the stored disks.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 show storage and dispensing unit 20 for storing open jewelcases 22. Unit 20 is a five-sided unit including a top 24, left-side 26,right-side 28, bottom 30, back 32, and cover 34. The top 24 is one pieceof rigid rectangular material, e.g., plastic made by injection molding.The bottom 30 is one piece of rigid rectangular material, e.g., plasticmade by injection molding, and is identical to the top. The size of thetop and bottom is slightly larger than the size of the open jewel casefor which the device was designed, so as to stow the jewel cases 22completely in unit 20. The back 32 is one piece of rigid rectangularmaterial, e.g., plastic made by injection molding; its size isdetermined by the number and the height and width of the jewel case orcases to be stored by unit 20. Cover 23 is shown at the bottom of unit20.

FIG. 2 shows the left side 26 which supports parallel rails 42 whichprotrude perpendicularly from the side, run parallel to each other alongthe length of the side, and are distributed regularly along the side.Each rail is spaced parallel to the next rail so that the side of thejewel case 22 shown in FIG. 4 fits easily in the passage created by thetwo parallel rails 42. The rails on both the left and right side areidentically arranged, so that when the sides face each other theopposing rails on the left and right side can support a jewel case 22which spans the space between the rails. The rails protrude sufficientlyto assure that the jewel case will span the space between its twosupporting rails. The rails determine the number of jewel casesstorable, with cover 23 at the bottom, as shown in FIG. 1, the number ofdisks is equal to the number of rails on one side.

FIG. 4 shows open jewel case 22. The assumed design of the jewel case 22used with compact disks (which have a diameter of about 43/4 inches) iswell known. It has a base 62 which holds a media storage disk and has acover 64 which is connected to the base at a hinge 66. When the cover 64is open and rests on the same plane as the base, hinge 66 is thethickest part, viewed from the side, of the jewel case 22. The casewidth is about 47/8 inches, and the maximum case thickness is about 3/8inch. The side walls 26, 28 of the unit 20 are spaced from each other bygreater than 47/8 inches, the inner edges of the opposed rails 42 arespaced from each other by less than 47/8 inches, and the side walls 26,28 are at least 93/4 inches in length (i.e., at least twice the width,and preferably at least 105/8 inches in length, as the case 22 isslightly longer than it is wide). The unit 20 is thus deep enough toenable complete insertion of the open jewel case 22.

FIG. 3 shows the bump 50 which protrudes from the top or bottom of eachrail 42. The jewel case 22 slides easily between the rail 42 and thebump 50 above a rail 42 except at the hinge 66. At the hinge 66, thebase is thickest, and the hinge 66 becomes wedged between the rail andthe bump as the jewel case 22 slides between the rails 42. The rails arespaced from each other by a distance greater than about 3/8 inch, andthe protruding bump structure is spaced from an opposed rail surface byless than about 3/8 inch. Bump 50 thus acts as a stop, preventingremoval of a case 22 beyond a disk extraction position, unless asufficient force is exerted to remove the case 22. Bump 50 has gentlyinclined surfaces on its front and back, and the rails are sufficientlyflexible to permit the thickest portion of the opened case to move pastbump 50 without damage to the case 22 or unit 20 upon application of aninsertion removal force.

FIG. 5 shows a cover 70 for the unit 20 which protects jewel cases 22from ordinary household environmental hazards such as dust or liquidspills. The cover 70 is one piece of rigid rectangular material with twosmall protrusions 72 and 74 which are received in tracks (not shown)that are located at the bottom of unit 20, and a handle 80 which assistsmanipulating the cover on its hinge. The cover 70 is, e.g., plastic madeby injection molding. When in a closed position, cover 70 covers theopening to the region between the side walls. When in an open position,cover 70 is between the sidewalls at the bottom of unit 20. Cover 70 canalso be located at the top of unit 20.

FIG. 6 shows storage and dispensing unit 80, which has been modified byproviding a wider extension at the front. In unit 80, the disk casesextend in front of rails 82 slightly, e.g., about 0.5 inch, tofacilitate grasping by a user's fingers. The side walls and rails 82 canthus be made shorter than twice the width, probably about 0.2 times thewidth shorter, though in perhaps an extreme case about 0.5 times thewidth shorter. Unit 80 would be used with a cover that encloses theexposed ends of the cases.

The invention is not restricted to the above described embodiments whichcan be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the invention. Itis, for instance, possible to wedge the jewel case on a number of otherlocations of discontinuity along the length of the side of the openjewel case. Also, the back could be opened to permit insertion of thecases 22 from the back; in this configuration, one could use stops thatprevented complete removal of cases 22 from the front.

What is claimed is:
 1. The combination comprising:a storage anddispensing unit, and a plurality of cases holding media storage disksstored within said storage and dispensing unit, each said case having agenerally square base, a generally square cover connected to said baseat a hinge, a case width, and a maximum case thickness when opened, saidcases being stored in said unit in case open positions in which saidbase and cover lie in a linear side by side fashion, said unitcomprisingtwo side walls that are connected to each other and spacedfrom each other by a distance greater than said case width, and aplurality of pairs of opposed rails extending toward each other fromsaid side walls, said opposed rails having inner edges, said inner edgesof said opposed rails being spaced from each other by less than saidcase width, said rails being spaced from adjacent rails on said sidewall by a distance greater than said maximum case thickness, said sidewalls having a length proportional to said length of an opened case,said open cases being contained within said unit on respective saidpairs of opposed rails, whereby said base of said case can be extractedby sliding on said opposed rails to move said case to a disk extractionposition in which said case base extends beyond said side walls and asaid disk is exposed to permit extraction of said disk from said case.2. The unit of claim 1 wherein said side rails are less than about threetimes said case width.
 3. The unit of to claim 1 wherein said opposedrails have an associated stop for engaging a unique feature on a saidcase to prevent removal of said case beyond said disk extractionposition.
 4. The unit of claim 3 wherein said base and said cover have athickest portion, and wherein said thickest portion of said base andcover of said case when opened is at or near said hinge, and whereinsaid rails each have a front, and wherein said stop is a protrudingstructure near the front of the rail that prevents movement of saidthickest portion past it without deforming a said rail or said case. 5.The unit of claim 4 wherein said disks are compact disks having adiameter of about 43/4 inches, said case width is about 47/8 inches,wherein said side walls are spaced from each other by greater than 47/8inches, wherein the inner edges of said opposed rails are spaced fromeach other by less than 4 7/8 inches, wherein said side walls are atleast 93/4 inches in length, wherein said thickest portion of said caseis about 3/8 inch, wherein said rails are spaced from each other by adistance greater than about 3/8 inch, and wherein said protrudingstructure is spaced from an opposed rail surface by less than about 3/8inch.
 6. The unit of claim 4 wherein said protruding structure hasinclined surfaces on its front and back and said rails are sufficientlyflexible to permit said thickest portion to move past said protrudingstructure without damage to said case or unit upon application of aninsertion/removal force but said structure prevents removal of said casewith the application of a force that is less than said insertion force.7. The unit of claim 1 wherein said disks are compact disks having adiameter of about 43/4 inches, said case width is about 47/8 inches,said side walls are spaced from each other by greater than 47/8 inches,the inner edges of said opposed rails are spaced from each other by lessthan 47/8 inches, and said side walls are at least 93/4 inches inlength.
 8. The unit of claim 7 wherein said side walls are at least105/8 inches in length.
 9. The unit of claim 1 further comprising bottomand top walls connected between said side walls.
 10. The unit of claim 9further comprising a back wall connected between said side walls andbetween said bottom and top walls.
 11. The unit of claim 10 wherein saidunit has a region between said side walls and wherein said regionbetween said side walls has a front, further comprising a cover that ismovable from a closed position in which said cover covers the front ofthe region between said side walls and prevents extraction of said casesto an open position in which said cases can be extracted.
 12. The unitof claim 11 wherein said cover is located between said side walls whenit is in said open position.
 13. The unit of claim 1 wherein said diskis an audio compact disk, audio mini disk, or CD ROM disk having astandard diameter and standard thickness, and said case width is between100% and 110% of said standard diameter, and said maximum case thicknessis between 300% and 600% of said thickness.
 14. The unit of claim 1wherein said side rails are greater than about 1.8 times said casewidth.
 15. The unit of claim 1 wherein said side rails are greater thanabout twice said case width.